Vehicle development that affects transport planning - December 2019 Bonus Edition
Interview with Miklos Kiss – Audi’s Head of Autonomous Driving
David Brown
At the premiere of the documentary film Machine, a movie that explores artificial intelligence in general but includes references to autonomous driving, Audi spoke about where they are at in terms of using this technology. The film pProducers incorporated comments from Miklos Kiss, Audi’s head of pre development of automated driving because their work is a good example of how technology will not just make the things we currently do, easier, but it could change our behaviour and the very shape of our cities. I spoke with Miklos at the event. Here are some of his reflections.
In regard to autonomous vehicles:
I think the companies have moved into a more realistic view of these systems. There has been truly a hype and there was a hype in presentations and demonstrations. And what many of us have ignored is that much harder work to put that on the street, put it into worldwide operation than putting it on a test track.
He has a background in linguistics- might this lead to different ways of communicating with the driver?
There is a whole new dimension that while communication is an interesting aspect, communication from driver with car will definitely be very different as we experience the driving needs are very different. So all the instrument cluster where we have the technical details at the moment are not of any further interest to a passenger in an automated car. They don’t look to the Speedo any longer because they say the car will care for that. They will look to the satnav system, whether the estimated time of arrival will be the right one and then they’re happy. So we have all the rest of the space for so-called infotainment or work experience because the technical details are to be managed by the car.
Driver distraction –It is bad but could it be good:
Distraction is a very relevant area, as this is the aspect that changes most of all the interaction things. So at the moment, as the driver is fully responsible for whatever the car does, distraction is a very bad thing and therefore we care that our systems do the least distraction possible to satisfy the driver and the road safety. At the moment we move to level 3 autonomy and the driver gets into the passenger seat but has to take over in a comfortable time within a couple of seconds; distraction will become a good thing because this will keep the driver awake, because monitoring a system that is very boring and functioning perfectly is not a human- like thing to do. What we will do is we will tend to fall asleep. So watching a movie will be a good thing and keeping us awake. And this is where the public has to understand and all that legislation has to understand that distraction will become a good thing all of a sudden.
So will we get Level 5 (full automation anywhere, anytime) in the foreseeable future?
Level 5 is, from my perspective, is a bit of science fiction. One day we'll get it. But I never would say yes. I think Level 3 and level four systems are quite near. And we see that in the next decade.
“Artificial Intelligence” Improves Tyre Performance
Falken's parent company, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, has developed a new technology that they claim utilises artificial intelligence to predict the properties of rubber.
The AI detects structural changes, caused by load and wear, and its effects on performance throughout a tyre's life cycle. This breakthrough also has applications for improving tyre safety.
The 'Tyre Leap AI Analysis' was developed in collaboration with Hokkaido University in Japan. Real-world data along with advanced image processing, such as electron microscopy, are used to analyse the internal structure of tyres.